Mural Rescue Program
Our procedures meet the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Standards and Practices and are defined as follows:
SPARC Mural Restoration Projects
Hitting the Wall
Restored in 2007, 2013, and 2021
In recent months, there has been a proliferation of tagging on murals throughout City of Los Angeles freeways. This has resulted in the whitewashing of several murals by Cal Trans. Judy Baca’s 1984 Olympics mural has been nearly destroyed; the entire bottom half of the mural was ‘grayed-out’, apparently in mid-October. Not the work of taggers this time, but by an anonymous freeway graffiti paint-over program.
SPARC Mural Restoration Projects
Great Wall of Los Angeles
Restored in 2011
“The restoration of the Great Wall of Los Angeles is a massive undertaking. Every segment of the 2,750ft is cleaned, examined and treated to bring it back to its original state of brilliant color. Within the three-month dry season in the Los Angeles River the work must be completed racing against a clock that is determined by the difficult conditions of heat, water flow, rain and other factors of the unique site in the Los Angeles flood control channel. The site channels the main water flow through the San Fernando Valley to the ocean and becomes extremely perilous in a rain storm so weather watches and evacuation methods are a constant worry for the 30 members of the restoration team composed of professional muralist, interns from universities around the country, local volunteers and past participants of the Great Wall productions.” - Judy Baca
SPARC Mural Restoration Projects
Alice Patrick Mural Restoration
Restored in 2012
Funding from the Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas for SPARC’s Mural Rescue Program, made it possible for Alice Patrick’s mural “Women Do Get Weary But They Don’t Give Up” to be fully restored, completed with an anti-graffiti coating, it will remain for another generation to come. [Click here for Location]
News
Restoration of POW/MIW Mural "You are Not Forgotten" in Venice, CA
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On May 27, 2016 of Memorial Day weekend, graffiti covered the POW/MIA mural in Venice, CA., honoring the fallen servicemen who served in Vietnam, originally painted in 1992 by artist and Vietnam veteran, Peter Stewart. The vandalism also covered hundreds of the 2,273 names of those missing in action and prisoners of war hand-painted by Mr. Stewart and several veteran volunteers.
Restoration of Alfredo de Batuc's "Dolores Del Río" in Hollywood, CA
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“Dolores Del Río” is part of SPARC’s Neighborhood Pride Mural program, whose intent is to create and represent the various cultural identities throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods. While it may not be a stretch to fathom how a 1920s movie star can be representative of Hollywood, the significance of the mural lies much deeper than the glitz and glam of the city.
Restoration of Yreina Cervantez's "La Ofrenda" in Downtown Los Angeles, CA
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On July 20, 2016, the CityWide Mural Program (CWMP) team began the restoration process of La Ofrenda, located under a bridge on 2nd and Toluca in downtown Los Angeles. The piece was painted by Yreina Cervantez in 1989. Since then, the mural had been tagged with graffiti numerous times and completely covered by another mural.
Restoration of Noni Olabisi's "To Protect and Serve"
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After 21 years of being out on the sunny streets of Los Angeles, Noni Olabisi’s “To Protect and Serve” is now receiving much needed conservation repairs. The historic artwork depicts the social services created by the Black Panther Party. Bobby Seale, Huey Newton and Angela Davis are memorialized in the mural as the demands of the party to end policy brutality and the murder of Black People, the right to land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace contextualize the powerful narrative.